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Life

07th Nov 2018

2018’s ‘Word Of The Year’ has been revealed

Rory Cashin

word quiz

In fact, the full top ten of the most important words of the year are here for you to peruse and use more often.

Every year, the Collins Dictionary’s lexicographers monitor the 4.5 billion-word Collins Corpus to create the annual list of new and notable words that reflect the culture of the world and people using those words.

Last year’s word of choice – “Youthquake” – wasn’t a word that anyone has ever used in real life, but the choices this year do seem to be much more in line with… well… with words that people actually say.

Topping the list this year is “single-use”, which the dictionary described as “a term that describes items whose unchecked proliferation are blamed for damaging the environment and affecting the food chain”.

Helen Newstead, head of language content at Collins, told The Guardian: “This has been a year where awareness and often anger over a variety of issues has led to the rise of new words and the revitalisation and adaptation of old ones. It’s clear from this year’s Words of the Year list that changes to our language are dictated as much by public concern as they are by sport, politics, and playground fads.”

Here is the top ten in full:

single-use – adjective: made to be used once only

backstop – noun: a system that will come into effect if no other arrangement is made

floss – noun: a dance in which people twist their hips in one direction while swinging their arms in the opposite direction with the fists closed

gammon – noun: a person, typically male, middle-aged, and white, with reactionary views, especially one who supports the withdrawal of Britain from the European Union

gaslight – verb: to attempt to manipulate (a person) by continually presenting them with false information until they doubt their sanity

MeToo – adjective: denoting a cultural movement that seeks to expose and eradicate predatory sexual behaviour, especially in the workplace

plogging – noun: a recreational activity, originating in Sweden, that combines jogging with picking up litter

VAR – abbreviation for: video assistant referee

vegan – noun: a person who refrains from using any animal product whatever for food, clothing, or any other purpose

whitewash – verb: to cast a white actor in the role of (a character from a minority ethnic group) or to produce (a film or play) using white actors to play characters from a minority ethnic group